Oregon Supreme Court, the highest court in the U.S. state of Oregon
The Oregon Supreme Court Building is the state's highest court and stands in Salem on State Street. The three-story structure displays Beaux-Arts architecture with Ionic columns, terra cotta walls, and a stained-glass skylight featuring the state seal in the Supreme Courtroom on the third floor.
The building was constructed in 1914 following a fire that destroyed the previous Capitol, designed to echo its predecessor. Architect William C. Knighton created the structure, and renovations in the 1980s and 2000s plus seismic reinforcement from 2019-2021 helped secure it for the future.
The building stands next to the State Capitol and is woven into Oregon's government identity. Its Beaux-Arts style with tall columns and terra cotta exterior reflects how the state values justice and the rule of law.
The building is easy to find in Salem, located right next to the State Capitol and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can go during business hours Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and accessible facilities are available to ensure entry for everyone.
The building was one of the first uses of terra cotta outside Portland in Oregon and contains a rare stained-glass skylight by the Povey Brothers from Portland. The modern glass sculpture in the stairwell, 'We Fly with Our Own Wings', made of over 1,600 hand-blown feathers, adds a surprising contemporary touch to this historic structure.
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